PR 5097 
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nys or<lei' * * DE M MTT^S '^ Actiu;; Plays. 

PRICK 15 CI'LNTS. 



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DE WITT'S ACTING PLAYS. 

Q ^rt ^0^ (Ntimljer 330.) 



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FIRST COME, 

FIRST SERVED. 



A COMEDIETTA, 



XINT OX^H A.C3T. 



By JOHN MADDISON MORTON, 

AUTHOR OF 

Betsy Baker,'' ''Box and Cox:' " Woodcock's Lillle Game,'' 
'' AtchU" " Which of the Two,'' " The Midnight 
Watch," '■'■ Slasher and Crasher,'' etc.. etc. 



TOGETHER WITH 



A Deseriptioii of tlie Costumes— Ca^t of tlie Cliaracters— Entrance^ 

and Exits— Relative Positions of tlie Performers on the 

Stage — and tlie whole of the Slage Business. 




DE WITT. PIJBLISITEH, 

ImA^A ^'o. 3S Jto.se Street. ^^§^^(1, l 




NOHr 
READY 



) PLAYS, AND D 
1 Plots, Costume, 
f tion, mailed frei 



COMPLETE DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE OF DE WITT'S AGTINQ 
DE WITT'S ETHIOPIAN AND COMIC DRAMAS, contaitiin^ 
Scenery, Time of Representation, and every other informa* 
fre? and post-paid. 



DE ^VITT'S 



ETHIOPIA! AND COMIC DEAMA. 






Notliing so thorough and complete in the way of Ethiopian and Comic Dramas has ever 
been printed as those that appear in the following list. Not only are the plots excellent, the 
characters droll, the incidents funny, the language humorous, but all the situations.Jby-play, 
positions, pantomimic business, scenery, and triclis are so plainly set down and clearly 
explained that the merest novice could piit any of them on the stage. Included in this 
Catalogue are all the most laughable and effective pieces of their class ever i^roduced. 

*^* In ordering please copy the figures at the commencement of each piece, which 
indicate the number of the piece in " De Witt's Ethiopian and Comic Deama." 

XQ= Any of the following Plays sent, postage free, on receipt of price— J'i/fcen Cents 
each. 

jg$i=* The figure following the name of the Play denotes the number of Acts. The 
figures in the columns indicate the number of characters— M. male; F. female. 



M. F. 



141. 

73. 
107. 

113. 
133. 

43. 

42. 

79. 



10. 
11. 
146. 

110. 

126. 
127. 
128. 

120. 

78. 
89. 

24. 

108. 

148. 
35. 
112. 

41. 
144. 
140. 

12 

53. 

63. 
131. 



3 1 



Absent Minded, Ethiopian farce. 1 

act -. 

African Box, burlesque, 2 scenes ... 6 
Africanus Bluebeard, musical Ethi- 
opian bui-lesqne, 1 scene 6 2 

Ambition, farce, 2 scenes 7 

Awful Plot (An) Ethiopian farce, la. 3 1 
Baby Elephant, sketch, 2 scenes.. . . 7 1 
Bad" Whiskey, Irish sketch, 1 scene. 2 1 
Barney's Courtship, musical inter- 
lude, 1 act 1 2 

Big Mistake, sketch, 1 scene 4 

Black Chap from Whitechapel, Ne- 
gro piece 4 

Black Chemist, sketch, 1 scene 3 

Black-Ey'd Winiam,sketch,2 scenes 4 1 
Black Forrest (The),Ethiopian farce, 

1 act 2 1 

Black Magician (De),Ethiopian com- 
icality 4 2 

Black Statue (The), Negro farce 4 2 

BUuks and .Jinks, Ethiopian sketch. 3 1 
Boboliuo, the Black Bandit, Ethio- 
pian musical farce, 1. act 2 1 

Body Snatchers (The), Negro sketch, 

2 scenes 3 1 

Bogus Indian, sketch, 4 scenes 5 2 

Bogiis Talking Machine (The), farce, 

1 scene 4 

Bruised and Cured, sketch, 1 scene. 2 
Charge of the Hash Brigade, comic 

Irish musical sketch 2 2 

Christmas Eve in the South, Ethio- 
pian farce, 1 act 6 2 

Coal Heaver's Revenge,Negro sketch,, 

1 scene 6 

Coming Man (The), Ethiopian sketch, 

2 scenes 3 

Cremation, sketch, 2 scenes...' 8 

Crowded Hotel (Tbe), sketch, 1 sc. 4 

Cupid's Frolics, sketch. 1 scene 5 

Daguerreotypes, sketch, 1 scene 3 

Damon and Pythias, burlesque, 2 sc. 5 
Darkey's Stratagem, sketch, 1 scene 3 
Darkey Sleep Walker (The), Ethio- 

•jian sketch, 1 scene 3 



M. 
Deaf as a Post, Ethiopian sketch.. . . 2 
Deeds of Darkness, Ethiopian ex- 
travaganza, 1 act 6 

Desperate Situation (A), farce, 1 sc. 6 

Draft (The), sketch, 2 scenes 6 

Dutchman's Ghost, 1 scene 4 

Dutch Justice, laughable sketch, 

1 scene 11 

Editor's Troubles, farce, 1 scene.. . 6 

Eh ? What is it ? sketch 4 

Election Day, Ethiopian farce, 2 sc. 6 
Elopement (The), farce, 2 scenes. . . 4 

Excise Trials, sketch, 1 scene 10 

Fellow that Looks like Me, inter- 
lude, 1 scene . 2 



First Night (The\ Dutch farce, 1 act 4 
Fisherman's Luck, sketch, 1 scene. 2 
Fun in a Cooper's Shop, Ethiopian 

sketch 6 

Gambrinus, King of Lager Beer, 

Ethiopian burlesque, 2 scenes 8 

German Emigrant (The), sketch, Isc. 2 
Getting Square on the Call Boy, 

sketch, 1 scene 3 

Ghost (The), Sketch, 1 act 2 

Ghost in a Pawn Shop, sketch. 1 sc. 4 

Glycerine Oil, sketch, 2 scenes 3 

Going for the Cup, interlude 4 

Good Night's Rest, sketch, 1 scene. 3 
Go aad get Tight, Ethiopian sketch, 

1 scene 6 

Gripsack, sketch, 1 scene 3 

Guide to the Stage, sketch 3 

Happy Couple, 1 scene 2 

Happy Uncle Rufus, Ethiopian mu- 
sical sketch, 1 scene.. 1 

Hard Times, extravaganza. 1 scene. 5 
Helen's Funny Babies, burlesque. 

1 act 6 

Hemmed In. sketch 3 

High .Jack, the Heeler, sketch, 1 sc. 6 

Hippotlieatron. sketch 9 

How to Pay the Rent, farce. 1 scene 6 

In and Out. sketch. 1 scene 2 

Intelligence Office (The), Ethiopian 

sketch, 1 scene 2 



FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED. 



A COMEDIETTA, 



IN ONE ACT. 



J 
By JOHN MADDISON MORTOIS', Esq., 

AUTHOR OF 

'Bdsy Baker," " Box and Cox," "Woodcock's Little Game;'' " Atchi," " Which ^flM 
Two? " ** The Midnight JFa^cA," "Slasher and Crasher," tic., etc. 



TOOETHEB WITH 



A DESCRIPTION OP THE COSTUMES— CAST OP THE CHARACTEKS — EN- 
TRANCES AND EXITS — RELATIVE POSITIONS OP THE PERFORM- 
KKS ON THE STAGE, AND THE WHOLE OP THE STAGE 
BUSINESS. 




NEW YORK: 
BE WITT, PUBLISHER, 

No. 33 Rose Street. 

Copyright, 1886, by A. T. B. De WtTT. 



/L 



FIRST COME, FIIfBT SERVED. 



CHARACTERS. 



M3 Pr 



Hakey Barton, a risins young lawyer. 

Basil Royston, willing to please Brother Jonathan, 

Colonel Challenger, uncle by co«rtes*y. 

Mks. Templeton, a widow with a Avill of her own, 

jSSphine, ! Mrs. Templetou's uieces. 



TIME IS PLAYING~ONE HOITK AND A QUAKTER, 



SCENERY. 

Mks. Tethpeton's Villa at RoehamptoTi. Handsomely-furnished apartments; large 
French window at c, looking on a garden ; doors r. and l. ; at r. c. a table on which 
is an open album > at i*. c. another table, covered with papers, etc.; table, solas, 
chairs, etc. 



COSTUMES.— Of Ihe present time. 



PROPERTIES. 



Boll of papers and lawyer's blue bag for Barton; small casket in which is a mini- 
ature for Josephine; album containing water colors fur table r. c; papers, etc., for 
table i>. c. 



STAGE DIRECTIONS. 



R. means Eight of Stage, facing the Audience; L. Left; C. Centre; R. C. Right 
of Centre; L. C. Left of Centre; D. F. Door in the Flat, or Scene running across 
the back of the Stage; C. D. F. Centre Door in the Flat; R. D. F. Right Door in the 
Flat; L. D. F. Left Door in the Flat; R. D. Right Door; L. D. Left Door; 1 E. First 
Entrance; 2 E. Second Entrance; U. E. Upper Entrance; 1, 2 or 3 G. First, Second 
or Third Groove. 

R. R. C. C. L. C. L. 

J8^ The reader is supposed to be upon the stage facing the audience. 



FIRST COME, FIIIST SERVED. 



SCENE. — :Mrs. Templeton's Villa at Roehampton. Ilandsomehj- 
furnished a^uirlment.s ; large French loindoio at c, looking on a 
garden ; doors k. and l. : at R. c. a table 0)i which is an o)ien al- 
bum ; at L. c. another table, covered with papers, etc.; table, sofa, 
chairs, etc. 

Enter Mrs. Templeton at c, foUowed hu Colonel Challenge ii. 

Colonel. Cousin MarLlia, you are wrong, wrong, wrong! a thousand 
times wrong ! 

Mrs. Templeton. Cousin Samuel, I am riglil, right, riglit! ten tlious- 
and Limes riglit! 

Col. (aside). Obstinate old woman ! 

Mrs. T. (aside). Pig-headed old man! 

CoL. What possible reason can you have for settincr your face against 
Josephine's getting married? It's tlownright tyranny. Call yourself 
an aiuit, indeed! 

Mrs. T. My reason is a very simple one. Iler elder sister, Julia, must 
find a husl)and first. 

CoL. First come, first served, eli? Really, my dear Martha. I must 
say that, for a sensible woman, you are by numy degrees the most 
prejudiced, the most self-willed, the most 

Mrs, T. Of course I am. But you know very well that when I once 
do make up my mind to anything 

CoL. You stick to it like a fty to a "catcli-'em-alive-oh." 

Mrs. T. I don't choose that Julia should suffer what I did. I had a 
sister, Dorothy Jane, four years my junior, who married before I did. 
Do you think that was pleasant? who supi)lied me with a sprinkling of 
nephews and nieces before I had a iiusband. Do you think that was 
pleasant? who gave garden parties, balls, concerts, to which all the 
world flocked, and surrounded her with flattery, adulation, whilst I was 
neglected, extinguished, regularly snufled out. Do you think that was 
pleasant? Well, it is this'humiliation that I am determined to spare 
Julia. 

Col. Well, you didn't lose much by wailing. I'm sure Tom Temple- 
ton was as good a creature as ever bi-eathed — didn't live long, poor 
fellow, ))ut cut up remarkably well, considering. 

Mrs. T. Leaving his two lueces, his brother's children, to my charge, 
with ten thousand ])ounds each. 

CoL. As a wedding portion, which, I must say, you don't geem in a 
hurry to part with. 

Mrs. T. You know my conditions. You have only to And a husband 
for Julia. 



4 FIRST COME, FieST SERVED. 

Col. I! when slie li;is refused lialf llie g'ood-lookin^^- fellows within ten 
miles rouiid? If she does mean to niurry, she takes lier time about it, 
that I will say ; it never seems to occur to lier that she's keeping her 
poor sisler out in the cold. 

Mrs. T. You- may be mistaken, cousin. I spoke to Julia only yester- 
day, and she expressed herself in terms wliich convinced me that, were 
she to receive a suitable ofler 

Col. She'd accept it? Well, I'm glad she's coming to her senses at 
last ; and I shall go away all the more comfortable in my mind. 

Mrs. 'J'. Going away ? 

CoL. Yes; I'm ofl' back again to Cheltenham. Touch of gout— liver 
queer; besides, my work here is done. Your husband's afluirs, which 
I confess appeared to me at first sight to be in a state of hopeless confu- 
sion, are now clearly and satisfactorily arranged, thanks to my young 
colleague, Harry Barton, who, I must say, worked like a nigger over 
them. By-the-bye, he's another victim to Miss Julia's caprice and fas- 
tidiousness -she'actually snubbed the poor fellow before she'd time even 
to look at him, nmch less know him. 

Mrs. T. {satirically). AVell, you'll confess he bears his disappointment 
with becoming resignation. 

CoL. Yes ; Ihj's getting used to it, like tlie eels. He doesn't see the 
use of crying over spilt milk. By-the-bye, there's another matter of live 
thousand ])'oniid3 coming to the girls "^out of the Hampshire property. 
But Barton will give you all the particulars. 

Mrs. T. I'm siu'e, cousin, I feel deeply indebted to you. 

CoL. Not half as much as you ought to feel to Harry Barton. Hasn't 
he been here twice a week for the last monlh, up to his elbows in leases, 
loans, mortgages, and the deuce knows what? Oh ! here he comes. 

Elder Harry Barton at c, a roll ofimpers under his arm, a lawyer's 
blue hag in Ins hand, which he deposils on chair. 

Barton {hoioing to Mrs. T.). Your servant, madam, {to Colonel) Ah, 
my dear Colonel, I lK)i)e you're well. But perhaiis I ought to apologize 
for entering unannounced. You nmy be engaged ? 

Mrt. T. Not at all. I am aware, Mr. Barton^ how deeply I am in your 
debt; but now that the business which served as your first introduction 
liere is satisfactorily concluded, pray remember my house is open to you 
as before. (Barton 60 /rs) You will kindly excuse me now — a few orders 
to give, {curtseys and exits l. ; at the same momeiil door at r. slowly 
opens and Josephine pee^?.? iji.) 

Josephine. Is the coast clear? {watching ^A.r^.'V. as she goes oitt) 
She's gone at last! {runs in.) 

Bart, {ineeting her). Jo, dear Jo ! {taking her hand which he is about 
to kiss.) 

Jos. Wait a minute ! {looking after Mrs. T.) She's quite disappeared; 
now you may! {holding out her haiid to Bartq-s, who kisses it) And now 
{turning to Colonel) you dear, good, kind old uncle. Uncle is it, or 
cousin?' I never know which. 

CoL. Don't you? It's simple enough. Your mother's elder brother's 
second— never mind. Call me uncle. 

Jos. Well, have you spoken to Aimt Martha? 

Bart. Yes. Have you broken the ice? 

Col. Cracked ic, that's all. 

Jos. And what was the result? Did she consent, or not? 

Bart. Did she sav ves, or no ? 



FIRST COME, FIRST SHEEED. O 

Jos. {impntientli/). Why don't you speak ? 

Bart, {ditto). Wliy dou't you say soMielliini;? 

CoL. How the deuce can I when you won't let me i;et in a word educ- 
ways? Well, ihen, uiy poor youui;; friends, sorry I've no y;oud new.s for 
you ; the old story over ag-ain— Mi.ss Julia stops the way. 

Bart. And yet Mrs. Teinpleton's pressing invitation to nio to visit at 
lier house 

CoL. Easily explained. She doesn't even suspect that your ailections 
liave been transfei'red from her elder to her younger niece. 

Jos. Then you should liave told her— then there would liave been an 
explosion. 

CoL. Yes; which would have blown Master PLirry clean out of the 
street door ! No, no— don't despair ; Julia will lind a, liusl)aii(l— sooner 
or later. 

Jos. Sooner or later? But what am I to do in the meanliiiie ? 

Bart. Yes; what are we to do in the meantime? 

Jos. I'm sure she's had plenty of oilers; but one was too young, an- 
other was too old— one was too rich, another wasn't rich enough ; ev<'n 
l)oor Harry here, though he followed her about like her shadow, and 
I'm sure made himself sufllciently ridiculous — even he wasn't good 
enough for her ladyship! It's downright absurd being so particular. 
I'm sure I wasn't. 

Bart. No, dear Jo— you took i)ity on me at once. 

Jos. No, ndt quite at once. I didn't jmup at you. But what- what 
is to be done? 

Col. Have patience. 

Jos. Patience ! Haven't I had i>ntience for the last live weeks? 

Bart. Five weeks and three days! 

Jos. Five weeks and three days! {siaJderdy) Oh ! such an iilca I such 
a cai)it;d notion! Listen! Julia, must lind a husband, or a liusbimd 
must be found for Julia! — that's a settled point. 

Bact. [(^oryeZ/^er). Quite so! 

Jos. Well, then, as she sets her face against a young one 

Col.. Yes ; as she sets her face against a, younu' one 

Jos.' And tui'us up her nos(i at a handsonui one 

Col. And tui-iis up her nose at a, handsome one 

Jos. {to Colonial). She might lind you nioie to her taste! 
Col. She Uiight find me more to "her— (.s-re/y/r/ JosKi'inNK liUKjhiiif/) 
So, Miss Saucy one, you're poking fun at me, art' you? Then you'll l)c 
good enoudi to find "another viclim — I mean anolher admirer— for Miss 
Julia. E^ad, I must make haste and pack up, or I shall lose my train ! 
Come along with me, little one. Good-bye, Barton. Keep ui) your 
spirits. Recollect you've still got me! 

Jos. And me. Harry! Not yet. but you will ! 

[Exemit Colonel axd Josephine, r. 
Bart. Dear Josepliine! What a contrast to her cold, insensible, ap- 
athetic sister ! I, who loved h(>r so sincerely, so devotedly, nuule such 
u thorough spooney of myself! and was even we:d< enough to believe I 
was not quite indifferent to her! I confess I IVlt huit— considerably 
hurt -infernally hurt ; but if she flattered herself I should be inconsola- 
ble, she was never more mistaktMi in her life. She little dreamed how 
soon I should find a cure for my infatuation in the chaiins of her angelic 
sister! Dear Josephine ! And to think there's no hope of calling her 
mine till we liiul somebody to call her sister /tis ! By-the-bye, here are a 
few papers I must look over, {sits at table, l. c, and opens papers.) 



6 FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED. 

• 

RoYSTON {heard inthout). Very well ; take nuy card to Mrs. Temple- 
ton. I'll wait. I'm ill no hurry. 
Bart. Hey day! who have we here? 

Enter Basil Royston, c. 

ItOYS. {coming doivn, sees Bakton). I beg pardon, sir I 

Bart, {rising). Sir— I 

Roys. Be seated, I beg. 

Bart. Not till you setme the example, {pointing to chair — they seat 
themselves.) 

Roys. Like me, sir, you are doubtless waiting to see Mrs. Templeton? 

Bart. No, sir! 

Roys. Oh! One of the family, perhaps? Possibly a friend ? 

Bart. Yes, sir, a friend, {aside) lie's very inquisitive. 

Roys, {looking at album). ^Vhat charming water-colors — perfect 
gems ! 

Bart. They are the work of Mrs. Templeton's elder niece. Are you 
an artist? 

Roys. No, merely an amateur. And you? 

Bart. A humble member of the legal jirofession. 

Roys. A lawyer, eh? {aside) By Jove! here's a chance for me. I've 
half a mind to— he looks tlie very i)ictnre of gootl nature, and six and 
eightpence won't ruin me. {aloud) Might I venture, sir, on so very slight 
an acquaintance, to solicit your professional opinion ? (Barton hou's) It 
is rather a delicate subject— a very peculiar subject. 

Bart. I'm all attention, sir — merely observing that the sooner you 
begin 

Roys. The sooner I shall have done. Exactl.v. Then I'll come to the 
point at once. I would ask whether, in your opinion, a ])romise of mar- 
riage, written under certain circumstances and under certain conditions, 
must necessarily be binding? 

Bart. Such conditions being 

i^ Roys. First and foremost, that the lady should liave her head altered ! 

Bart, {astonished). Have her head altered? 

Roys. I mean have her hair dyed. 

Bart. Which condition the lady has not complied with ? 

Roys. No, sir— it's as red as ever. 

Bart. Then, sir, I've no hesitation in saying that the promise falls to 
the ground. 

Roys, {seizing Barton's hand and shaking it). ThanK you, sir. {aside 
and sighing) Poor Sophia ! 

Bart, {smiling). May I inquire the name of my new client? 

Roys. Royston. 

Bart. The Roystons of Banbury ? 

Roys. Yes, Banbury— wdi ere the cakes come from. 

Bart. I was aware that Mrs. Templeton expected you on a matter of 
business— a certain sum of money, I believe? 

Roys. Yes, coming to the family from some Hampshire propert}'. 

Bart. I imagined Mr. Royston was a much older person, 

EoYs. I see! You mean Jonathan. 

Bart. Jonathan? 

Roys. Yes, my brother, the head of the firm. He's twenty years my 
senior ! But as he could not spare the time to come, he sent me. 

Bart, {aside). It's worth the trial— decidedlv worth it. {looking aside 
at Royston) Young, gentlemanly, sufficiently good-looking, good family. 



riEST COME, FIllST SERVED. 7 

Here i^oes. (aloud) Excuse my cfUKkir, hut I 'j;iiess your molivo in put- 
ting- Llie professional question you did just now. You are tiie writer of 
the })ronjise of ni;irri;ig(?, und you tire desirous of conlructing tuiotlier 
alliance, eli ? 

Rows. 1 don't €ave about iJ, but Jonalhau does, (aside, and sighing 
wjain) Poor Soi»ld:i ! 

Bart. Perluips yoti luive sojiie party in view ? 

ItOYS. No; l)Ut i'lu on Uie lool^out 

Bart. And, iio <Jo<ibr, niaxious to succeed ? 

Rovs. Not i)ar{icid:irly — l)ut Jonatliau is, 

Bakt. P(Thaps iLint is tlie olijeet of your visit here? 

lloYs. Ell ? Is LJjere a marriageable young- lady here? 

Bart. Yes. 

Roys. I. should like to see her. 

Bart. Notajjug mom easv. 

JioYS. Whntag. ? 

Bart. Twenty. 

Roys. Any fortune? 

Bart. Te«tiious:md! 

Roys. That 'd Siiil Jonathaii. Pretty? 

Bart. OlKirnung! ' 

Roys. That'd suit nioi Egad, suppose I try my luck? Fve half a 
mind. 

Bart. Have n \Htole one. I've a notion you'JI succeed 

Roys. But I know jio))ody here. 

Bart. I lieg your jiardou; vou know me! 

Roys. Eh ? ^ 

Bart. {hhIA intent ion). Known me for years 1 

Roys. (s//ddenli/ seeing Barton's meaninij). Of course I have! 

Bart. Ever suice we were children 1 

Roys. Babies! 

Bart. We went to Ihe sanne school togetlier I 

RoY's. Or course we did I 

Bart- At Tuobridge WeJJs! 

Roys. Yes; at Bagnigge Wells! 

Bart. And we have been friends ever since! 

Roys, (enlhusiasiieally). Bosom friends ! And you'll realty do all you 
enn to ser\'e me? 

Bart. Of course I will— (rt^/<:fe) and myseJf at the sanje time. 

Roys. A thousand tli;in]<s, my dear — by-the-bye, what shall I call you ? 

Bart. Hnrry. And you? 

Roys. Basil, (ffvafipitig Barton's hand) Sophia might scratch yoau* 
eyes out, but Jonatiiaii will bless you ! 

Bart, (seeiug Mes. T. amn'oaching). Husli ! 

Mrs. Te3Iptletox enters, l. 

Mrs. T. (to Royston). Sorry to have kept you waiting, Mr. Royston. 

Roys. I am here, madam, as my brother's rej)resentative. 

Mrs. T. I am aware of it. Mr. Barton, allow me to introduce to 
you 

Bart. No necessity for it, madam. Basil is an old friend of mine! 

Roys. Yes, madaiu. I iittie thought of meeting an schoolfellow here. 
(shaking Barton's hand 'warmly) Some years ago now — eh, Tom ? 

Bart, {aside to him). Harry ! 

Rov.5. llarrv! 



8 FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED. 

Mrs. T. So you were sclioolfellows, elj ? 

Roys. Yes, ma'am; i\t Bagiiigge Wells. 

Bart, {hastily aside to him). Tunbridge! 

Roys. Of course — Tunbrkl^e ! 

Mrs. T. You must have had some difficulty In recognizing each other? 

Roys. I bad — very considerable difficulty, I iissure you. 

Bart. We should have i«et earlier, no doubt, but for my friend's 
Jengthened absence in Italy, {significantly to Royston.) 

Boys. Yes. Ah! ch:iriiiing country — for tliose who don^t mind the 
cold \ {on a sign from Barton) I mean, the heat ! 

Mrs. T. {aside and looking at Royston). Really a vastly agreeable 
young man I 

Enter Colonel, r. 



Col. So Royston has arrived, has he ? {seeing Basil) Hey da}- ! whj', 
this is Basil, his younger brother! 

Roys. At your service, CoJoneL 

Mrs. T. You are acquainted, then ? 

Col. I was intimate with bis mother's family— Indeed, I nmy say I was 
the means of getting him a nomination to the Blue Coat school 

Bart, {aside). This is deuced awkward. 

Mrs. T. The Blue Coat school ? I thought you said Tunbridge Wells. 

Roys, {recollecting). Yes ; tliat was l)efore— I mean after 

CoL. {aside and ms'picion.^ly). I suspect these young fellows are ))lay- 
ing some Httle game of their own; and, what's more, I can pretty welJ 
guess what it is. 

Mrs. T. {aside to Colonel). As 'Mv. Royston is an entire stranger lo 
me, may I ask you. Cousin Samuel, what is the opinion you have formed 
of liin>? 

Col. Oh! a verj- charming young maw indeed. Most res{)eetable 
family ; an ample inconie already, with great expectations from a couple 
of aunts and a godnmther ! A litlh^ wild at present, perhaj>s. hut he'li 
soon settle down wheji lie's married. Ah! happy the woa>an who 
snakes a conquest of such a man. {aside) There, now I'm in the con- 
spiracy too I 

Mrs. T. {to Royston). Y'our friend Mr. Barton does not leave here tilJ 
to-morrow; you, I hope, will also defer yotn' depart m-e till th(3n. 

Bart, {quickly to Royston). Of course you will ! {to Mrs. T.) Of coarse 
ho will ! {to Royston) You'll be only too delighted! {to Mrs. T.) He'll be 
only too delighted ! 

Mrs. T. Ah ! l^ere's my niece, {going np to meet Julia, itho enters c.) 

Roys, {seeing Josephine, who at the same momettt enters r.). Look ! 
a what charming creature ! 

Bart. No, no ! it isn't she ! it's the other ! Look there > {■}x>iniing to 
Julta) There's a figure — there's symmetry ! Look at those finely-chis- 
elled features! 

Roys. Yes, yes; hut still, in my opinion — {looking admiringly at 
Josephine.) 

Bart. Your opinion, indeed I Pshaw ! what do you \v>ow about it? 

Jos. {aside to Colonel and j^oiniitig to Royston). What I has Harry 
found somebody already ? 

Mrs. T. Julia, my dear, allow me to present Mr. Royston, an okl friend 
of Mr. Barton's. (Julia curtseys stiffly to Royston.) 

Bart, {to Royston). There's a curtsey ! that's what 1 ca)! a curtsey ! 

Roys. Yes; but, as I said before, of the two I \imlev— {looUng ai 
Josephine.) 



FIRST COME, FIKST SERVED. i) 

Bart. You prefer, intleed ! Surely I must know belter tlitiii you. 
(to Julia) My friend Roystoii— a distinguished ainiiteur of tlie line arts, 
is in rapture with yoiu* si^etciies. Miss Julia, (Julia curtseys stiffly 
again.) 

Jos. {to Julia). Wliy don't you tliunk Mr. Royston, sister? 

Roys, {aside to Barton). Oli ! slie's the sister, eli ? 

Bart, {with -pretended indifference). Yes, a little, harmless, insignifi- 
cant school-girl. 

KoYS. Still, I repeat, if I had to choose between them 

Bart. Pshaw ! my dear fellow, if you only knew whnt nonsense you're 
talking, {aside) Zounds ! I hope he isn't going to fall in love with Jose- 
phine. 

Col. Sorry to interrupt, Itnt my time is precious, and business must 
be attended "to. Mr. Royston, will you step into the dining-room with 
your pai)ers? Barton, will you come too? 

Jos. {hastily aside to Barton). I iniderstand it all, Harry. A very nice 
young man indeed, and likely to stniid a good chance. Don't you think 
so? ^Where did you pick him up so soon ? 

Bart. Hush ! I'll ex[)lain everything another time. 

[Colonel rt??.^/ Miis. T. exeunt r, foUotoed by Barton a)id Roys- 
ton. Roystox stops, turns, and makes a profound Ixxo to 
Josephine. Barton push's Jiini out. 

Jos. {aside). I wouthM- wh:it sIk; thinks of him. {(doud) A very gentle- 
manly young man, Mr. Royslon, don't you think so, Julia? 

Julia {indiff'jre)itly). I scarcely looked at him. 

Jos. {aside). That's not very encour.iging. {aloud) How do you m:;n- 
age to find so many admirers? I can't. 
" Julia {smitinr/). iliiluM'to perhaps I may have had the lion's sliai-e of 
attention, homage, and professed admiration ; l)Ut your turn will come. 

Jos. It's a long lime a,l)Out it ! You are so difficult to pleast'. xVn I 
poor Mr. Royston. I sui)pose, will Ix; snu')l)(»d like Ihe rest, 

Julia {reprovi/njly). Josi'phin(> ! surely you don't imagine 

Jos. That there is some attraction for him here? Of course I do. ft 
can't be Aunt Martha— nor I ! I^m only a child, {uuth affected humility.) 

Julia. Jo3oi)hine, you speak as tht)Ugh you were piquetl — vexetT; I 
might almost say envious. 

Jos. Envious? I? Of what? 

Julia {sir/lung). Of what, indeed ! Ah ! dear one, the jirivileges of an 
elder sister are not so enviable, after all. What is often her lot? To bo 
constantly exposed to flattery— adul.it ion from the lips of strangers — 
compelling her to assume an extriiint? reserve in order to modify llu^ ex- 
aggerated and, at times, indt^licate encomiums of relatives and friends. 
What is the necessary result? Doiibt. distrust, susi)i('ion — nay, cn't-n 
l)rejudice, oftentimes mijust, against thos(i who profess a desire to please. 
On this impulse I liave acted— an imi)ulse dictated by self-respect and a 
due sense of my own dignity. 

Jos. {aside). What a serious tone! {aloud) But just think how cruelly, 
liow unjustly you may have acted. And I'm sure, as for Mr. Royston — 

Julia. Mr. Royston again ! Sillv cltild ! 

Jos. Ciiild i— Perhaps' I could mention a little fact that— tliat, but I 
won't, {aside) Good-bye to my secret if I did ! {aloud) Good-bye ! 

Julia. Are you going to lea,ve me too? 

Jos. Haven't I got to write out all the invitations for our ball on the 
23d? 
Julia. Your birthdav?-true. 



10 FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED. 

Jos. Yes ; tli:it is the professed reiisou — but of course it is on your 
account tliat it is .ii;iven. 

S\]Li\ {reproacfifuUy). Josepliine! 

Jos. I Icnow a younger sister's duty, Miss Tenipleton. 

[Makes a loiv curtsey and exit, l. 

Julia. Josepliine! Sister!— Did slie but i<now how she misjudges 
ine ! How lieavily I liave been puinshed for that pride, tliat apparent 
insensibihty with which slie reproaclies nie ! Oh, Harry! Harry! could 
you but tell how bitterly I have repented. But surely, surely I lie cnici, 
wicked indillerence with which I treiited his atiection, ids devotion, can- 
not have entirely destroyed them — some little spark of the old Ihinie 
must still remain. Else why is he so constantly here? Why does he 
still seem to seek my presence! At any rate, he shall see tliat I am no 
lieartless coquette; and when this i\Ir. Royston presents liimself, as I'm 
sure he will — {seeing Royston, who enters u.) 1 thought so. 

Roys, (aside). She's alone! She's decidedly handsome ; yet, as I said 
before, there's something about tiie other ihnt—ihiit— {aloud a}id bo n> 
inr/ to Julia) Miss Tenipleton ! 

Julia {curtseying). Sir, the business matter in which you are engaged 
is, I presume, settled ? 

Roys. Yes; the signatures alone are required. 

Julia. In that case perhaps I had better - (rt6o«^ to retire.) 

Roys. One moment, I beg! (aside) She's decidedly very handsome ! 
Still, I don't know liow it is, but there is certainly someihing aJiout the 
other that — that — {cdoud) Before leaving this house to-morrow with my 
new acquaintance — I nunm, my old friend Barton 

Julia (quickly). Mr. Barton leaves to-morrow? 

Roys. Yes, alas! I say "alas," because one day only is now left for 
me to admire your physical attractions, your mental accomplishments — 

Julia. Oh, sir! Believe me, my sister is far more accomi)lished than 
I am. 

Roys. Far be it from me to deny it. Still, from the highly eulogistic 
terms in which everyone speaks of you — your sister amonu' the lir.-t — 

Julia. Ah, sir! Dear Josephine is so amialile, so alieclioiiate, so 
good, so loving, so angelic 

Roys, (aside). She sticks up for her sister, that I will say. (aloud) Slill. 
there are certain attractions which we can all judu(^ of bv our own (\ves. 

Julia (quickly). And who can possess them to a, greater degnM^ tliaii 
Josephine? Such exquisite grace, such absolute perfection of form and 
feature 

Roys, (aside). Her sister again ! If we go on at this rate we sha'n't 
get on very fast, (aloud) Allow me to be very frank with you. My 
brother Jonathan — but perhaps you never lieard of Jonathan ?— Jona- 
than Royston, of Banbury, where the cakes come from— well, he often 
reproaches me with being rather wild, and fast, and fliiihly- — 

Julia. Tlie oidy fault'l lind with Josephine, dear child. She is so 
giddy, so tlioughtless, so excitable. What a capital match you'd make. 
Ha, lia, ha! 

Roys. \aside). That's a pretty broad liint. (aloud) And he— I mean 
Jonathan — says that the best thing I coukl do would be to get married. 

Julia. The very conclusion I have come to about Josephine. 

Roys, (aside). It really looks as if she wanted to turn me over to her 
sister, (aloud) And having received the flattering assurance that my 
pretinsions to your hand might possil)ly not be unsuccessful 

Julia, From whom, pray? Doubtless, from my aunt. 

Roys. Oh no; from my dear old friend Barton. "^ 



FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED. 11 

Ji'LiA {i)uJi>rn(int!y). Mr. D.irloii ! lie? No, no! I cannot, will not 
l)elit'Vt^ it ! ' 

Kovs. I'm snrc lie will tiot deny it an.l see, rorlunately he's here! 

Enler JJaktox, \i. 

I3akt. jMi^s T<Miii)leLoii, yo(a- i)resence is required in the drawing- 
room. 

Julia {very coklly, <tud sealimj herself at tahh-). Presentlj'. 

IJART. {aside to RoYSTox). Weil, what news? 

lioYS. [aside to Barton). All ri-litl At least, if it isn't this one, it'll 
be the other— one of the two. 

Bart, {aside to Royston). What do you mean by " the other"? 

Hoys, {aside to Barton). The " Ijiile harndess, insig-niticant school- 
girl," you know! 

JjART, (aside). Confound th<; fellow! 
^ Roys, {(tside to Barton). You (Irsl put the notion of marriage into my 
head, and [ won't leave this lioust; a bachelor — I'll marry somebody ! 1 
leave you tog(4her. You'll i)lead my cause, won't you ? And pitch it 
strong, won't you ? I shall l)e all anxiety to know the result, because 
if she won't h'ave me, I can fall back oii the other. Don't you see? 
(shakes Barton's haxd and rims out, c.) 

Bart, (aside and lookintj at Julia). To have to plead the cause of 
another, when, in spite of \\n\ her l)resenc^' will recall the past, painful, 
humiliating as it is! 

Julia {with indifference). Yowv fi-ic nd has left you. l\v. Barton ? 

Bart, lie has, j\liss Templelon ; but lie has left an advocate to inter- 
cede with you on his behidf. 

Julia (satirically). A willing and an earnest one, no doubt, who prob- 
{d)ly h:is lurnished' him with a detailed catalogue of my tastes, habits, 
pursuits and disposition. 

Bart, (aside). He's bt^en blabbing! (aloud) Surely he cannot liavt; 
bet raved mv confidence? 

Julia (xvtth suppressed anger). The cliarge of betrayal of confidence 
should rather be levelled at olie who by his intimacy with a fandly, into 
which he is aihnitted on terms of friendship, is enabled to study the 
character of its uu'iniiers for the purpose of retailing the results of his 
observations to others! 

Bart. I will not afiecl, to misunderstand your reproof. It is true that 
T spoke of you to Mr. Royston in terms which you fully nu>rit— that 1 even 
told him that vour heart was free. 
' Julia. Perfectlv. absoiutelv free! You undertook to Ix; his advocate, 
with such zeal and earnestness, one might almost imagine you had some 
l)ersonal interest? 

Bart. And what if I had an interest -a powerful interest? 
.Iv LI A (quickly). Indeed! 

Bart. Yes. And after the somewhat harsh rejection I met with at 
vour hands— which, no doubt, I fuUv merited-wimt greater proof can 
i give of the esteem in which I still hold you than to confide my secret 
to vou? 
JuLiA (stariiiu/). Secret ! (aside) What can he mean ? 
Bart. That, on the eve of leavhi-- your family, I should feel far less 
regret could I indulge iti the hope of ever becoming connected with it Ity 
u closer tie. 

Julia (aside and joyfulli/). Can it be? Has he forgotten ? Forgiven ? 
Can he still care for 'me? ((dotal) But why this silence— this want of 
confidence in me ? 



12 FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED. 

Bart, Frankly, because we feared you would oppose our wishes, our 
liopes. 

Julia {eru/erJy). Onr liopes? We feared ? 

Bart. Yes; she especially. 

JuLTA. Slie ! Of whom are you speakiny,? Her name? 

Bart. Surely I must liave menlioned it. Your sister. 

Julia {slur tiiuj from her chair). Josepliine ! 

Bart. Yes; rejected by lier elder sister, I souglit and found ?;olacR 
and consolation in her i^oodness and sympathy, 

Julia {anth viereasing anrjer). So! Your frequent visits, your con- 
stant presence here, ai)i)arently so inconsistent with your "wounded 
feeliii.i;-3," {satiricallii) are now explained. It was for her I And I was 
to be kept in ignorance, to fancy, to believe, to hope 

JJart. {surprised). Miss Temi)let()n ! 

Julia. I now understand this anxiety to dispose of my hand— this 
crowd of admirers tlirown in my way ! What mattered my feelings-^ 
my ha.p|)iness? (/ri^/i increasing excilemeut) I was an obstacle to be 
removed ! 

Bart. I impUm; you 

Julia {stamping her foot). Silence, sir I 

Enter Mrs, Templeton, hurriedlij, r. 

Mrs. T. What is the matter here? Juli:i, what means this excite- 
ment— this agitation ! {to Barton) Perhaps you, sir ■ 

Bart, I am as much surprised as yourself, madam, I ventured to 
confide to Miss Julia, my pretensions to the Inind of her sister 

Mrs, T. {urith a scream). What! You had the cruelty, the barbarity 
to make such an avowal to \u^v <dder sister? {adv/nicing irpon Barton, 
who retreats) to lacerate lier feelings ! to woimd her pride ! 

Julia. Yes, that's it; to wound my pride. 

Bart. But really 

Mrs. T. Silence, young man! I rememlier what my feelings were 
when my younger sister was married l)efore me. I was clioking, sir! 
suflbcating, sir! I turned positively purple— all sorts of colors, sir ! 
And here is a little pert, forward chit, daring to follow her Aunt Dorothy 
Jaiie's exami)le ! But here she comes. 

^//^er CoLOKEL, r,, «;/(Z Josephtne, r^ 

So. miss, {advancing angriltj on Josephine) a i)relty account I've lieard 
of you ! To mix yourself up at your age in a silly rom.ance— a nonsens- 
ical love-intrigue 

CoL. {interfering). But, my dear Martha 

Mrs. T. {turning sharply on him). Hold your tongue, Cousin Samuel. 

Jos, But, atmt, if you'll only allow me — ~ 

Mrs, T. But I won't allow "you. {to Julia) Keep up your spirits, poor 
l)ei'secuted victim. 

Jos. Victim I It seems to me tlnit I'm the victim. Just as I tliought 
I was going to be married and settled ! {beginning to sob. Colonel tries 
to pacifii her.) 

Mrs. T. Married and settled, indeed ! A child— a baby like yon ! {to 
Barton) After what has occurred, sir, you will see that your further 
presence under this roof 

Bart, {bowing). I fully understand, madam, 

Mrs. T. {to Josephine). Come, niiss, follow me, (Josephine about to 



FIRST COME, nUST SERVED. 13 

speak) Not a word ! It is for mo to spcnk, :is you'll find I intend to do, 
Jind to some purpose. This \v;i.v. {iiin/cui'j Josephine jjuss be/ore her, 
she and JvIjIA follow her out, k) 

Col. ^Vhew ! Here's a pretty piec(3 of business. 

Bart. Notsalislied with rejecting me herself, slie carries her prejudice, 
her liate so far as to 

CoL. Hate! Nonsense, {snddenlij) By Jove! I liave it— at le;ist I 
tliinlv I have. What if she should feel a '• sneaking- kindness " for you 
after all ? 

Bart. Pshaw ! 

CoL. But what about friend Royston? 

Bart. Hang friend Royston ! 

CoL. With all n)y lieart ; but where th(3 deuce is lie? 

Bart. Waiting somewhere or other to liear the result of my interview 
with Miss Tempteton. 

CoL. In which you undertook to plead his cause, eh ? 

Bakt. Yes ; and forgot all about it in my anxiety to plead my own. 

Col. What's that ? Do you mean to say you conhded to her the secret 
between you and Josephine? 

Bart. Yes; trusting to her generous nature and her sisterly aflectiou, 
I certainly did. 

Col. And a pretty mess you've made of it. Wtill, I must find Royslou 
and let him know. As for you, as you've received orders to march, the 
sooner you pack up and pack oft" the better, {hurries oul c. ) 

Door R. ojyens and Josephine peeps in. 

Jos. Harry, ore you alone— quite alone? (Jmrries fortcard.) 

Bart, Yes. What is it? 

Jos. Such a discovery! {in a very mysterious lone) She's got one! 

Bart. She? Who? 

Jos. Julia ! 
• Bart. Got one ? Got what ? 

Jos. A young man shut up in a box ! 

Bart. In a Ik)x ? 

Jos. Listen. After being well scoUhnl by Aunt Martha. I followed 
Julia to her room. There she was, with a little open box beCon^ her, 
out of which she took something, looked at it, then pressed her lips to 
it, and gave such a sigh ; you might have heard it here— perhaps vou 
did. 

Bart. Well? 

Jos. Then aunt called her and she hurried out of the room, leaving 
the box on the table; and then — then — somehow or other— here it is. 
{producing a small casket) It looks as if there was a young man inside 
— I mean a portrait — doesn't it? 

Bart, {ear/erly). You've not opened it? 

Jos. No; that's for Aunt Martlia to do. 

Bart. Snrely you would not betray your sister's secret— perhaps her 
happiness? 

Jos. Much she cared for mine, didn't slie ? Aunt Martha must ai;d 
shall see it! {going. Barton stops her, the box falls on the stage and 
opens) There, there, how clinnsy you are! 

Bart, {picks np box, then suddenly starts). What do I see? 

Jos. That's what I want to know. It is a portrait, isn't it ? 

Bart, {confused). Yes— no ! a mere fancy sketcli — nothing more. 
{taking miniature from box and hastily concealing it in his breast 



14 FIRST COME, FIRgT SERVED. 

'pocket) Be ixTSiuulcd l.y uio— rcphice the l)t>x wiiere you fouiul it. {gives- 
box to lier.) 

Jos. Miiyii't I take just one little i)ee[)?— not that I've an atom of 
curiosity. 

Ijart. No, no ! 

Jos. Well, if you insist on it. 

Bart. I do not insist— I beg, I implore il. 

Jos. Very well, {hurries out r.) 

Bart, {'watching lier out, then taking miniature out and looking at 
it). My {)ortrait! And what is written here? {reads) "From memory." 
AVhat'am 1 to think? Can I dare to hope that lier indiflerence was 
assumed— that she ever loved me -that she loves me still? Can sucii 
hai)[)iness be mine? Dear Julia! Bui zounds! what about Josephine ?- 
Poor little <i;irl ! I can't nuirry them both. What — what is to be done? 
{walking up and down) Will anybody tell me what's to be dune! 

E?iter RoYSTON, hurriedli/, v.. 

Roys, {coming down). Oh, here you are! I couldn't wait any long-er. 
{following Barton up a)al doirn.) 

Bart, {impatienth/). Don't worry! Don't bother 1 

Roys, {astonished). Bother I wlien I want to thank yon for introducing- 
me to this charming-, amiable family, and to tell you that I dcn'L despair 
of becomini; one of it. 

Bart. What? 

Roys. In a word, I'm in love! There's no mistalve about it— over 
liead and eais in love. 

Bart. \Vhat, sir— you persist in carrying on this absurd, ridiculous 
joke? 

Roys. Joke! 

Bart. Yes. sir ; nnd I beg to tell you, I'll not allow, I'll not permit you 
to annoy poor, dear Julia — I mean Miss 'rcmplelon — wilh your unwel- 
come attentions, sir— yom- absurd importunities, sir. 

Roys. Miss TiMupleton ? My dear fellow, she's nothing whateviM- to do 
Willi it : it's the other— the little one. 

Bart, {.joyfulhj). Josei)iiine? 

Roys. Y<'S. 

Bart. My deur fellow, come to my ai'ms! {Ihrniring his arms about 
RoYSTON, u^ho .struggles) I congndulate you ! I give you j^y ! Such a 
sweet, charming. aVnialile creature, brimliil of talcni, o\ <'ill()\\In^- with 
tenderness. Come to my arms ag; iji I {embracing IIovston again.) 

Roys. Then you'll speak for me, eh? , 

Bart. Si)eak for yourself— here she comes. 

Enter JosEPniNE, hurrirdlij, \\. 

Jos. {stopping 0)1 sci'iug Royston\ Mr. Ivoysloii ! 

^AKY. {aside to Royst().\). Now Hhmi, spi^ik out ! Don't beafrifid- 
put on a sentimental look. 

Roys, {assuming a rcr)/ lacka.dai.^'calJonkjis'dr). This soi'l (tf Ihiirj! 
{aloud) Miss Jos(^pliiiu^— 1 - I- (rw/(/«) It's V(-ry awkward: If 1 only 
knew how to begin. 

Bart, {aside to him). Go on ! 

Roys. Pardon my fraid<n(^ss, but but it has l)een impossiiih^ foi' me to 
find myself in your charming society without being captivated -eii- 
clianted — l)y your fascinations, your 

Jos. {surprised). I thought that it was my sister who 



FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED. 15 

Roys. So it wiis ; but sIk^ wouMiTt li:iv(» mc Tliat's why I 

1).\RT. {hnstih/ (i.<i/(l(; lo hliii). No, llmt wuii'L ilo ! 

Roys, {xhoiitiuti). No, tluit won't do! 

Jos. {/ilUL more as'oiii.sked). And you don't hesitate to address me in 
this Ianu-ua2;e \)e{o\\'i— {pointing to Bahton.) 

Roys. iJefore my friend— my bosom tVitMid — tiuit I went to scliool 
with at Ba<^-nigi2,e VVeiis ? Wiiy sliould I ? It is lie wlio encoura,i;es me - 
who tells me to "go on." {to Barton) You told me to "go on," didn't 
you ? 

Jos. {anth intention, looking at Barton). But has it never occurred to 
you that you might have a, rival ! 

Roys. So much the better! I should make it my immediate business 
to sweep him off the face of the earth ! 

Jos. {to Barton, in a sarcnstic tone). And you, sir, can listen with 
perfect calmness and indifference ! Have you nothing to say? 

Roys. Yes, have you nothing 

Bart, {aside to him). YioVX^yonv tongue! {aloud, and with affected 
fioleninitu) Ah! who can anticipate events? How little do we know 
what a few hours may bring forth ! 

Roys. Yes, how Utile do "we know 

Baet. {aside to him again). Hold your tongue! {(dond)l\\ a, word, 
what if circumstances compel me to leave Enghmd for a considcraljle 
time? 

Jos. A considerable time? . 

Bakt. Yes ; two years at least — possibly more? 

Jos. Two or three years? 

Bart. Could I venture to ho[)e that you \vould sul)mit to such a tax 
on your goodness — your patience? 

Jos. {veri/ qnicldn). I should think not, indeed! 

Baet. {aside). Sh(i doesn't love me! Huzza h ! {aloud) What course 
is then ojien to me? One— only one— to sacrifice myself to the hapi)i- 
ness of my friend ! 

Roys. {gi-aspi)ig his liand). Glorious creature ! 

Jos. Buc whiit about your own happiness ? It isn't likely you could 
give me up so quietly wilhouL some olln^r r(> ison— some otlitu' motive. 

Bart. I have another motive, which for \our sister's sake you will 
resi>ect. In a word, that portrait 

Jos. In Julia's box ! Yes. Well? 

Bart. Was mine 1 See 1 {taking oid p )rtrait and showing it.) 

Jos. {exclaiming). Yours ? It is ! 

Roys. Yours? ll\^\ {bewildered.) 

Jos. Then— then you are her younir m:in aftcu' all ? 

Roys. Y^'es ; you are her young man 

Jos. Of course. Now I understand — now I see it all. 

Roys. So do I. No I don't — at least, not quite. 

Enter Colonel, hurriedly, c. 

Col. {singing as he comes in). "See, the conquering hero comes." 
Victory! victory! Everything's settled; and now, my dear younu" 
friends, {shaking Barton's ^wc/ Josephine's //rt^idv) you can get married 
as soon as vou like. 

Jos. ) 

Bart. \ {together). Married! 

Roys. ) 

CoL. Yes. I had a devil of a fiuht for it, but I've carried the day. 
Aunt Martha consenis. Julia consents, evervi)odv consents! 



16 FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED. 

Roys. I beg your pardon— I dou't ! {shouting) I forbid the banns! 
Enter }iR&. Templeton, r., foUoiced by J vi.i a. 

Julia (aside, as she sees Barton). SLill here ! 

Jos. So, Aunt Martlia, 3011 have given your consent? And you too, 
Julia? 

Julia {endeavoring to conceal her emotion). Yes, Josephine, willing- 
\y, gladly. Can I be inditlerent to your happiness ? {smiling sadly. ) 

Jos. (aside). How bravely she bears herself! (aloud) And yet, just 
now you were so indignant, so angry with nie! 

Julia. A uionient;rry caprice, an unworthy jealousy; but no more of 
that. Kiss nie, dear sister, (kisses Josephink and moves anwj.) 

Jos. (aside). A tear ! But you won't sutler long, i)oor dear luartyi- ! 
(suddenly bursting into loud laughter) Ha, ha, ha ! (aside to ColoiXel) 
Laugh ! 

Col. (forcing laugh). Ha, ha, lia! (aside) Laugh ! 

Roys, (very loud). Ha, lia, ha ! (aside) I dou't know what I'm laugli- 
iuii- about. 

Mrs. T. What is the matter? 

Jos. (laughing again). Ha, lia, ha! You don't mean to say you've 
all been taken in ? Did you think we were in earnest all the time? Ha, 
ha, ha ! (aside to Colonel) Laugh ! 

Col. Ha, ha, ha! 

Roys, (very loud). Ha, ha, ha! 

Mrs. T. (imimtiently). Josephine, I insist on your explaining this 
extraordinary behaviour instantly. 

Jos. Nothing so simple, i^to Colonrl and Barton) There's no nt^cessity 
for our carrying on this innocent little jest any longer, is there? 

Mrs. T. jest? 

Jos. Yes ; this harmless conspiracy to m^ke everyltody happy. Julia 
dear, it was to test your love for me that I pretended to be so very anx- 
ious to get married, which I wasn't the least bit in the world, {^nuth a sly 
look ft^RoYSTON) I mean, I wasn't then. My fellow-conspirator, Mr. 
Barton, fearing that your rejection of him miglit i)roceed from a prefei-- 
ence for another, joined in the -plot, l)ut very unwillingly, for it is you, 
Julia,, you alone, that he has ever loved ; \ou alone that lie loves still ! 

Mrs. T. What do I hear? 

Bart. The truth, madam, (lo Julia) May I hope, or must I endure a 
second refusal ? 

Julia, (tenderly). I sufiered too much from the first, Harry, (giving 
her hand to Barton.) 

Roys, {aside). That's one couple ; but there's room for another. {Jo 
Mrs. T.) Madam, I have the honor to solicit the hand of your younger 
niece. Miss Josephine! 

Mrs. T. With all my heart, Mr. Royston ; that is, unless Josephine 
objects. 

Jos, (quickly). But she doesn't! (giving her hand to Royston.) 

Bart. You see, Jonathan will be satisfied after all. 

Roys. Yes. But poor Sophia ! (sighing.) 

Bart. Hush ! (aside to Josephine, anil sHpjying the portrait into her 
hand) You'll put this portrait back in its phice. 

Jos. She won't care to look at it now that she's got the original. 



CUBTAIN. 



m WITT'S ACTIKG PLAYS. 



>Ki" Please notice that nearly all the Comedies, Farces and Comediettas in tlio followingf 
iiist of "De Witt's acting Plays " are very suitable for represeutatiou iu small Amateur 
Theatres and ou Parlor Stages, as they need but little extrinsic aid from complex sceuery. 
or expensive costumes. They have attained their deserved popularity by their droll situa- 
tions, excellent plots, great humor and brilliaut dialogues, no less than by the fact that 
they are the snost perfect ia every respect of any edition of plays ever published either iu 
the United 'States or Europe, whether as regards purity of text, accuracy and fullness of 
Btige du-ectious and scenery, or elegauce of typography aud clearuess of printing. 

*:„* In ordering please copy the figures at the commeucemcnt of each piect,, which 
indicate the number of the piece in " De Witt's List op Acting Plats." 

jm' Any Oi the following Plays sent, postage free, on receipt of inice— Fifteen Centr/ 
each, \ 



J(XJ=" The l3gure following the name of the Play denotes the number of Acts, 
figures in the columns indicate the number of characters— ]il. male; F. female. 



The 



IU. 
IG7. 

93. 

40. 

89. 
loa. 

337. 

lee. 

310. 

41. 
141. 
'*23. 

i7. 

J6. 
279. 
]96. 
160. 
179. 

25. 

70. 
261. 
226. 

24, 
199. 



Adrienne, afama, 8 acts 7 

, All that Glitters is not Gold, comic 

drama, 2 acts G 

, All on Account of a Bracelet, come- 
dietta, 1 act 2 

, Anything foi a Change.comedy.l act 3 
Apple Blossoms, comedy, 3 acts. . . 7 

Area Belle, farce, 1 act i> 

Atchi, comedietta, 1 act 3 

Aunt Charlotte's Maid, farce, 1 act. 3 
Aunt Dinah's Pledge, temperance 

drama, 2 a( ts G 

Bachelor's Box (La Petite Hotel), 

comedietta, 1 act 4 

Biirdell vs. Pickwicli, sketch, 1 act. 
Barrack Roo.ii (The), comedietta,2a. G 

Beautiful Forever, larce, 1 act 2 

Bells (The), drama, 8 acts 9 

Betsey Baker, farce, 1 act 2 

Birthplace of Podgers, farce, 1 act.. 7 

Black Sheep, drama, 3 acts 7 

Bl;ick-Eyed Susan, drama, 2 acts. . .14 

Black and White, drama, 3 acts 6 

Blow for Blow, drama, 4 acts 11 

Breach of Promise, drama, 2 acts. . 5 
Broken-Hearted Club, comedietta. . 4 

IBonuie Fish Wife, farce, 1 act 3 

Bottle (The), drama, 2 acts 11 

Box and Cox, liomance.^i act 2 

Cabman No. 93, farce, 1 act 2 

Captain of the Watch, comedietta, 

1 act 6 

Caste, comedy, 3 acts 5 

Ca.3t upon the World, drama, 5 acts.ll 
Catharine Howard, historicr.i play, 

3 acts ,12 

Caught by the Cuff, farce, 1 act.... 4 

Charming Pair, farce, 1 act , . . . 4 

Checkmate, comedy, 2 acts 6 

Chevalier de St. George, drama, 3a. 9 
Chimney; Corner (The), domestic 

drama, 3 acts 

Chops of the Channel, farce, 1 act.. 3 
Circumstances alter Cases, comic 

operetta, 1 act 1 

fl'ouds. comedy. 4 acts 8 

CiJiaiica"' CwuuioBK, farce, 1 act 3 



3 


222. 




248. 


3 


107. 




152. 


2 


f)2. 


3 


148, 


3 




2 


113. 


2 


20. 


3 


286. 




4. 


8 


22. 




27o. 


1 


9(3. 


2 


16. 


2 


58. 


2 


125. 


3 


71. 


2 


142. 


3 


204. 


5 


21. 


2 


200. 


3 


210. 


6 


263. 


2 


186. 


8 


242. 


1 


47. 


G 


283. 


1 




2 


202. 




315. 


2 


297. 


3 




5 


200. 




135. 


6 


230. 


1 


103. 


3 


9. 


5 




3 


.128. 




ioi. 


J 


99. 


2 


262, 


1 


145. 


7 


102. 


1 


88. 



Cool as a Cucumber, farce, 1 act.. . . 3 2 

Cricket on the Hearth, drama, 3 acts 8 6 

Cupboard Love, farce, 1 act 2 1 

Cupid's Eye-Glass, comedy, 1 act.. 1 1 

Cup of Tea, comedietta, 1 act 3 1 

Cut Off With a Shilling, comedietta, 

1 act 2 1 

Cyril's Success, comedy, 5 acts 10 4 

Daddy Gray, drama, 3 acts 8 4 

Daisy Farm, drama, 4 acts 10 4 

Dandelion's Dodges, farce, 1 act... 4 3 

David Garrick, comedy, 3 acts 8 3 

Day After the Wedding, farce, 1 act i S 

Dearest 3Iamma, comedietta, 1 act.. 4 S 

Dearer than Life, drama, 3 acts 6 5 

Deborah (Leah), drama, 3 acts... ... 7 6 

Deerfoot, farce, 1 act 5 J 

Doing for the Best, drama, 2 acts.! 6 I 

Dollars and Cents, comedy, 3 acts. ! 9 4 

Drawing Boom Oar(A).comedy,l act 2 1 

Dreams, drama, 5 acts 6 3 

Drunkard's Warning, drama, 3 acts 6 3 

Drunkard's Doom (The), drama, 2a. 15 f^ 

Drunkard (The), drama, 5 acts 13 6 

Duchess de la Valliere.plav, 6 acts., 6 4 

Dnmb Belle (The), farce, fact 4 2 

Easy Shaving, farce, 1 act 5 2 

E. C. B. Susan Jane, musical bur- 
lesque, 1 act.. .... 8 1 

Eileen Oge, Irish drama, 4 acts 11 3 

Electric Love, farce, 1 act 1 1 

English Gentleman (An), comedy- 
drama, 4 acts 7 4 

Estranged, operetta, 1 act 2 1 

Everybody's Friend, comedy, 3 acts 6 5 

Family Jars, musical farce, 2 acts . . 5 2 

Faust and Marguerite, drama, 3 acts 9 7 
Fearful Tragedy in the Seven DjaIs, 

interlude, 1 act 4 1 

Female Detective, drama, 3 acts 11 4 

Fernandft, drama, 3 acts 11 10 

Fifth Wheel, comedy, 3 acts 10 2 

Fifteen Years of a Drunkard's Life, ^ 

melodrama, 3 acts 13 4 

First Love, comedy, 1 act 4 1 

Foiled, drarra. 4 acts 9 g 

Founded ou Facts, farce, 1 act 4 2 



DE WITT'S ACTING PLAYS.~Oontiiiued. 



■^-o^*^ » » 



269, Fruits of the Wine Cup, drama, 3cts b 
VJ2. Game of Cards (A), comedietta, la.. 6 
TJt. (iarrick Fever, farce, 1 act. ...... • • < 

53. Gertrude's Money Box, arce, 1 act. 4 
73. Golden Fetters (Fetter«d),drauia, d.U 
30. Goose Avith the Golden l^ggs, farce, 

I J^^.t ^ 

T 31. Go to Putney, farce, 1 act • • • ^ 

276. Good for Nothing, comic drama, la. 5 
306. Great Success (A), comedy ^ -icts « 

277. Grimshaw, Bagshaw and Bradshaw, 

farce, 1 act • • ; ' ' V * * k 

200. Heir Apparent (The), farce, 1 act... 5 

241. Handy Andy, drama, 2 acts. J-" 

28. Happy Pair, comedietta, 1 act a 

1.51. Hard Case (A), farce, 1 act. ^ 

8. Henry Dunbar, drama, 4 acts..-. ..10 
180. Henry the Fifth, hist, play, 5 acts.. 38 
103. Her Only Fault, comedietta, 1 act.. ^ 

19 He's a Lunatic, farce, 1 act d 

60. Hidden Hand, drama, 4 acts 6 

191 . High C, comedietta, 1 act 3 

246. High Life Below St,airs,farce.2 acts. 9 
301. Hinko, romantic drama, 6 acts r2 

224. His Last Legs, farce, 2 acts o 

l>i7 lis Own Enemy, farce, 1 act o 

174. Home, comedy. 3 acts 4 

^511. Houesty is the Best Policy, play. 1. ^ 

64. Household Fairy, sketch, 1 act 1 

190. Hunting the Slippers, farce, 1 act.. 4 
197. Hunchback (The), play, 5 acts 13 

225. Ici on Parle Francais, farce, 1 act... o 

252. Idiot Witness, melodrama, 3 acts. . . 6 
IS. If I had a Thousand a Year, farce, 1 * 

116. I'm not Mesilf at all, Irish stew, la. 3 

29. In for a Holiday, farce, 1 act 2 

a59. In the Wrong House, farce, 1 acr. . . ■* 
27S. Irish Attorney (The), farce, 2 acts . . 8 
282. Irish Broom Maker, farce, 1 act 9 

273. Irishman in Loudon, farce, 1 acts. . 6 

243. Irish Lion (The), farce, 1 act 8 

271. Irish Post (The), drama, 1 act 9 

244. Irish Tutor (The), farce, 1 act 5 

270. Irish Tiger (The), farce, 1 act 5 

274. Irish Widow (The), farce, 2 acts 7 

122. Isabella Orsini, drama, 4 acts 11 

177. I Shall Invite the Major, comedy, 1 4 

100. Jack Long, drama, 2 acts 9 

299. Juan of Arc, hist, play, 5 acts 26 

139. Joy is Dangerous, comedy, 2 acts. . 3 

17. Kind to a Fault, comedy, 2 acts 6 

233. Kiss in the Dark (A), farce, 1 act... . 2 
309. Ladies' Battle (The), comedy, 3 acts 7 

86. Lady of Lyons, play, 5 acts 12 

\37. L' Article 47, drama, 3 acts 11 

72. Lame Excuse, farce, 1 act 4 

144. Lancashire Lass, melodrama,4 acts. 12 

34. Larkins' Love Letters, farce, 1 act.. 3 
180. Leap Year, musical duality, 1 act....l 

253. Lend Me Five Shillings, farce, 1 act 5 

111. Liar (The), comedy, 2 acts 7 

1 19. Life Chase, drama, 5 acts 14 

230. Limerick Boy IThe), farce, 1 act. ... .5 

48. Little Annie'fc- Birthday, farce, 1 act..2 

32. Little Ktoel, farce, 1 act 4 

/S4. Little Ruby, drama, 3 acts 6 

205. Little Em'ly, drama, 4 acta 8 

le.^. Living SUtue (The), farce, 1 act.... 3 
JSa. Loan of a Lover (The), vaudeville,!, i 



109. Locked in, comedietta, 1 act 2 

85. Locked iu with a Lady, sketch 1 

87. Locked Out, comic scene 1 

143. Lodgers and Dodgers, larce, 1 act. . 4 
212. London Assurance, comedy, 5 acts. 10 

291. M. P., comedy, 4 acts 7 

210. Mabel's Manoeuvre, interlude, 1 act 1 

163. Marcoretti, drama, 3 acts 10 

154. Maria and Jlagdaleua, play, 4 acts.. 8 
63. Marriage at any Price, farce, 1 act. . 5 

249. Marriage a Lottery, comedy, 2 acts. 3 
208. Married Bachelors, comedietta, la.. 3 

39. Master Jones' Birthday, farce, 1 act i 

7. Maud's Peril, drama, 4 acts 5 

49. Midnight Watch, drama, 1 act 8 

15. Milky White, drama, 2 acts 4 

46. Miriam's Crime, drama, 3 acts 5 

51. Model of a Wife, farce, 1 act 3 

302. Model Pair (A), comedy, 1 act 2 

184. Money, comedy, 5 acts 17 

250. More Blunders than One, farce, la. 4 
312. More Sinned against than Sinning, 

original Irish drama, 4 acts 11 

234. Morning Call (A), comedietta, 1 act. 1 

108. Mr. Scroggins. farce, 1 act 3 

188. Mr. X., farce, 1 act 3 

169. My Uncle's Suit, farce, 1 act 4 

216. My Neighbor's Wife, farce, 1 act 3 

236. My Turn Next, farce, 1 act 4 

193. My Walking Photograph, musical 

duality, 1 act 1 

267. My Wife's Bonnet, farce, 1 act 3 

130. My Wife's Diary, farce, 1 act 3 

92. My Wife's Out, farce, 1 act. 2 

218. Naval Engagements, farce, 2 acts. . . 4 
140. Never Reckon your Chickens, etc., 

farce, 1 act 3 

115. New Men and Old Acres, comedy, 3 8 

2. Nobody's Child, drama, 3 acts 18 

57. Noemie, drama, 2 acts.. 4 

104, No Name, drama, 5 acts 7 

112. Not a bit Jealous, larce, 1 act 3 

298. Not if I Know it, tarce, 1 act 4 

185. Not so bad as we Seem, play, 5 acts.l3 
84. Not Guilty, drama, 4 acts 10 

117. Not such a Fool as he Looks, drama, 
3 acts 5 

171. Nothing like Paste, farce, 1 act. ... 3 
14. No Thoroughfare, drama, 5 acts 13 

300 Notre Dame, drama, 3 acts 11 

•>6* Object of Interest (An), farce, 1 act. 4 
268^ Obstinate Family (The), farce, 1 act. 3 
173. Off the Stage, comedietta, v act.... 3 

2^7. Omnibus (The), farce, 1 act . . 5 

tie. On Bread and Water, farce, lact... 1 

254. One Too Many, farce, 1 act • ■ • • * 

33. One Too Many for Him, farce, 1 act 2 

3. ,£100,000. comedy, 3 acts 8 

90." Only a Hallpenny. farce, 1 act.... •, 2 

170. Only Somebody, farce, 1 act 4 

289. On the Jury, drama, 4 acts ..... 5 

97. Orange Blossoms, comedietta, 1 act 3 

66. Orange Girl, drama, 4 acts 18 

209. Othello, tragedy, 5 acts 16 

172. Ours, comedy, 3 acts 6 

94. Our Clerks, farce, 1 act 7 

45. Our Domestics, comedy-farce, 2 acts fi 

155. Our Hei-oes, military play, 5 acts... 24 
178. Out at Sea, drama, 6 acts .... 1" 



DE WITT'S ACTING PLAYS.-Oontiimed. 



M. F. 

J 7. t> 701-iaiicl Route, comedy, 3 acts 11 5 

I 5. Pan- of Shoes (A), farce, 1 act 4 3 

!io5. Partuers for Life, comedy, 3 acta 7 4 

156. Peace at auy Price, farce, 1 act 1 1 

82, Peep o' P>ay, drama, 4 acts 12 4 

] 27. I'egsy Green, farce, 1 act 3 li) 

2'3. Petticoat Parliameut, extravaganza, 

1 act 15 24 

293. Phlloincl, romantic drama, 3 acts,. . G 4 

62. PliotograpliLc I'ix, farce, 1 act 3 2 

61. Plot and Passion, drama, 3 acts. ... 7 2 

138, Poll and Partner Joe, burlesqe, ia.,10 3 

217. Poor Pillicoddy, farce, 1 act 2 3 

110. Poppleton's Predicaments, farce, la. 3 G 

50. Porter's Knot, drama, 2 acts .3 2 

59. Post Boy, drama. 2 acts 5 3 

)5. Pretty Horse-Breakor. farce 3 .0 

/8U. Pretty Piece of Business (A), come- 
dy, 1 act 2 3 

181. 182. Queen Mary, drama, 4 acts 37 J 

196, Queer(?st Courtship (The), comic 

opeietta, 1 act 1 1 

255. Quiet Family, farce, 1 act 4 4 

157. Quite at Home, comedietta, 1 act. .. 5 2 

132. llace for a Dinner, farce, 1 act 10 

237. Keguiar Fix (A), farce, 1 act 6 4 

183. llicholieu, play, 5 acts 12 2 

38. llighttul Heir, drama, 5 acts 10 2 

77. Roll of the Drum, drama, 3 Orcts 8 4 

BIG, llonieo on the Gridiron (A), mono- 
logue, for a lady 1 

19.">. Rjsemi Shell, burlesque, 4 scenes.. G 3 

247. Rough Diamond (The), farce, 1 act. G 3 

l'.)4. Rum, drama, 3 acts 7 4 

13. Ruy Bias, drama, 4 acts 12 4 

2J9. Sarah's Young Man, farce, 1 act 3 3 

i:i8. School, comedy, 4 acts 6 G 

'01. School for Scandal, comedy, 5 acts. .13 4 

.'()4. Sk;rap of Paper (A), comic drama, 3a. 6 G 

79. Siiecp iuWolf's Clothing, drama, la. 7 5 

203. Slie Stoops to Conquer, comedy, 5a.l5 4 

37. Silent Protector, farce. 1 act , 3 2 

35. Silent Woman, farce, 1 act 2 1 

■J 13. Single Married Man (A), comic ope- 
retta, 1 act 6 2 

43. Sisterly Service, comedietta, 1 act,, 7 2 

6, Six Months Ago, comedietta, 1 act., 2 1 

22k Slasher and Crasher, farce, lact. .. 6 2 

10. Snapping Turtles, duologue, 1 act, . .1 1 

2G Society, comedy, 3 acts 16 5 

207 Sold Again, comic operetta, 1 act. .. 3 1 

i()i. Sparking, comedietta, 1 act 1 2 

78. Special Perfcinauces, farce, 1 act. . 7 3 
515. Still Waters J an Deep, comedy, 3a. 9 2 
L'riG. Sweethearts, dramatic contrast, 2a.. 2 2 
232. Tail (Tale) of a Shark, musical mon- 
ologue, 1 sceue 1 

31. Tamiug a Tiger, farce, 1 act 3 

J50. Tell-Tale Heart, comedietta. 1 act. . 1 2 

120, Tempest in a Teapot, comedy, 1 act 2 1 



M, r. 
2.j7, Ten Nights in a Ear Room, drama, 

5 acts 8 3 

146, There's uo Smuke without Fire, 

comcdiutta, 1 act 1 ^ 

83. Thrice Jlarried, personation piece, 

1 act 6 1 

245, Thumping Legacy (A), 1 act 7 1 

251. Ticket of Leave Man, drama, 4 acts. 9 3 

42. Time and the Hour, drama, 3 acts. 7 li 

27, Time and Tule, drama. 4 acts 7 5 

133. Tiiuothy to the Rescue, farce, 1 act 4 2 
1.53. 'Tis Better to Live than to Die, 

farce, 1 act 2 1 

134. Tompkins the Troubadour, farce. 1. 3 2 

272. Toodles (The), drama, 2 acts 10 2 

2.)5. To Oblige Benson, comedietta, 1 irct 3 2 

238. Trying It On, farce, 1 act 3 3 

29. Turning the Tables, farce, 1 act. , . 5 3 

214. Turn Him Out, farce, 1 act 3 2 

ICS. Tweedie's Rights, ccmiedy, 2 actss,. 4 J 

12G. Twice Killed, farce, 1 act 6 3 

231. 'Twixt Axe and Crown, play, 5 acts.24 13 

198. Twin Si.-ters, comic operetta. 1 act. 2 2 

'.;;5. Two Bonnycastlos, farce, 1 act 3 3 

iJO. Two Buzzards (The), farce, 1 act 3 ^ 

ot). Two Gav Deceivers, face, 1 act 3 

] -yd. Two Polts, farce. 1 act 4 -. 

'JS*. Two Roses (The), comedy. 3 ai^'ls. . . 7 4 

292. Two Thoi'us (The), comedy, 4 :icts.. 9 4 

294, Uncle Dick's Darling, drama, 3 acts 6 5 

102 Uncle's Will, comedietta, ] act 2 1 

KiG, Up for the Cattle Show, iarce, 1 ad G 2 

81 . Vandyke Brown, farce. 1 act 3 3 

317. Vetei'an of 1812 (The), romantic mil- 
itary drama, 5 acls 12 2 

124. Volun leer Review, farce, 1 act 6 G 

91. Walpole, comedy in rhyme 7 2 

118. Wanted, a Young Lady, farce, 1 act. 2 1 
2S1. Wanted, One Thou.sand Spirited 
Young Milliners for the Gold Re- 
gions, farce, 1 act 3 7 

44. War to to the Knife, comedy, 3 acts 5 4 

311. What Tears can do. comedietta, la.. 3 2 

105. AYhich of the Two? comedietta, la.. 2 10 

2Gfi. Who Killed Cock Robin? farce, 2a.. 2 2 

98. Who is Who ? farce 3 2 

12. Widow Hunt, cotuedy, 3 acts 4 4 

213. Widow (The), comedy, 3 acts 7 6 

5. William Tell with a Vengeance, bur- 
lesque 8 2 

„.,< I Window Curtain, monologue 1 

I Circumstantial Evidence " 1 

136. Woman in Red, drama, 4 acts 6 » 

IGl. Womaji's Vows and Masons' Oaths, 

drama, 4 acts 10 4 

11. Woodcock's Little Gp^ne, farce, 2a \ 4 
290. Wrong Man in the Right Place (.4 

farce, 1 act 2 3 

54. Young Collegian, farce, 1 act -3 3 



'^^---^^ A COMPLETE DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE OF DE WITT'S ACT. 
I^^^'^ING PLAYS AND DE "WITT'S ETHIOPIAN AND COMIC DRAMAS, 
•ontaining Plot, Costume, Scenery, Time of Representation, and all other informa- 
tion, mailed free and post paid on application. Address 

BE WITT, S^ Rose Street, New York. 



DE WITT'S DRAWING-ROOM OPERETTAS, 



B^^ TO MUSICAL AMATEURS. „^J 

The number of Musical Amateurs, both ladies and gentlemen, is not only very 
targe, but is constantly/ increasing, and very naturally, for there is no more re- 
fined &nd 2)leasant mode of spending leisui'e hours than in singing and playing the 
choice productions of the best Composers. Hitherto there has been an almost total 
iick of suitable ineces adapted to an evening's entertainment in Parlors by Amateurs. 
(!)f course M'hole Operas, or even parts of Operas, require orchestral accompani- 
tiients and full choruses to give them effect, and are therefore clearly unfit for 
iA.mat'Jur performance, while a succession of songs lacks the interest given by a 
Iplot and a contrast of characters. In this series {a list of which is given below) w 
'hav« endeavored to supply tliis want. The best Music of popular Composers is wed- 
ded to appropriate words, and the whole dovetailed into plots that are effective as 
mere 2^etite plays, but are rendered doubly interesting by the appropriate and jeau- 
ti/td Music, specially arranged for them. 



LIST OF DE WITT'S MUSICAL PLAYS. 

PRIQE 15 CENTS EACH. 



(jEAP year— a Musical Dual- 
ity. By Alfued B. Sedgwick. Mu- 
sic selected and .adapted from Of- 
fenbach's celebrated Opera. " Gene- 
rieoe de Brabant.'''' One Male, one 
Female Character. 

THE TWIN SISTERS-Comic 

Operetta, in One Act. The Music 
selected from the most popular num- 
bers in Le Cocq's celebrated Opera 
Bouffe, " Oirofe Girofla;' and the 
Libretto written by Alfued B. Sedg- 
Aviciv. Two Male, Two Female 
Characters. 

tJLD AaAIN Am GOT. THE 

MONEY.— Comic Operetta, m One 
Act. Tiio Music composed and the 
Libretto written by Alfued B. Sed(j- 
Avic'K. Tiiree Male, One Female 
Character. 

IHE QTJEEE,EST OOUETSHIR 

— Coiuic Operetta, iu One Act. The 
Music arranged from Offenbach's 
cel'^brated Opera, " La Princesse de 
Trebizon.de,''' and the Libretto writ- 
ten, by Alfued B. SEDGWicii. One 
Male, One Female Character. 



ESTRA]!TGED.— An Operetta, in 
One Act, The Musie arranged from 
Verdi's celebrated Opera, "/; Trov- 
afore.''' and the Libretto adapted by 
Alfued B. Sedgwick, Two Malc^ 
One Female Character. 

OIROTJMSTAIfOEB ALTEL 

CASES.— Comic Operetta, in On 
Act. The music comjjosed and th^ 
Libretto written by Alfued B. Sedc 
WICK. One Male, One Female Chai\ 
acter. 

MY WALKING PHOTOGEAPB 

—Musical Duality, in One Act. TIk 
Mu8ic arranged from "Le Cocq'& 
Opera, "L« Fille de Madame Angot,'" 
and the Libretto written by Atfuro 
B. Sedgavick. One Male, tUie Fe- 
male Character. 

A SINGLE MAERIET) M4N- 

Comic Operetta, in One Act. Tlio 
Music arranired from Offi;nbach's 
celebrated Opera i'.ouffc, " Mada7ne 
VArcliiduc,'''' and the Libretto writ- 
ten by Alfued B, Skogwiok. Six 
Male,"Tvvo Female Cha. acter >. 



foOLLY MOEIAETY.-An insii 

' Musical Sketch, in One Act. The 
Music composed and the Dialogue 
written by Alfred B. Sedgwick. 
One Male, one Female Character. 
Suitable for the Variety Stage. 

niE GHAEGE OF THE HASH 

BRIGADE.— A Comic Irish Musical 
Sketch. The Musie composed and 
the Libretto written by Joseph P. 
Skelly. Two Male, two Female 
Character" Suitable for the Vatri^ty 
Stage. 



GAMBEINUS.KING OP LAGER 

BEER.- A Musical Ethuipum Bur- 
lesque, in One Act. Music and Dia- 
logue by Frank Dumont. Eight 
Male, ont* female Character. Suita- 
ble for the Ethiopian Stage. 

APEIOANUS BLUEBEAED.-A 

Musical Ethiopian Burlesque, in One 
Act. Music and Dialogue by FxiANK 
DuMONT. Four Male, four Fcmalfl 
Characters. Suitable for the Ethw- 
pian, Stage. 



M WITT'^ ETHIOPIAN AND COMIC DRAMA. -Continued. 



30. 
lU. 

76. 
91. 

87. 

135. 

92, 

9. 

57. 

! 65. 

u. 

11.5. 
14. 

105. 
■15. 
55. 



M. F. 

Jealous Husband, sketch 2 1 

Julius the Suoozer. burlesque, 3 sc. 6 1 
Katriua's Little Game, Dutch act, 

1 sceue 1 1 

-Last of the Mohicaus, sketch 3 1 

Laughing Gas, sketch, 1 sceue 6 1 

Live Iiijuu, sketch, 4 scenes 4 1 

Lost Will, sketch 4 

Lucky Job, farce, 2 scenes 3 2 

Luniftic (The), farce, 1 scene 3 

Making a Hit, farce, 2 scenes 4 

Malicious Trespass, sketch, 1 scene. 3 
'Meriky, Ethiopian farce, 1 scene... 3 1 
:Mitky Free, Irish sketch, 1 sceue . . 5 
Midu'ight Intruder, farce, 1 scene . 6 1 
Milliner's Shop (The), Ethiopian 

sketch, 1 scene 2 2 

Moko Marionettes, Ethiopian eccen- 

tJ'icity, 2 scenes 4 5 

Molly Moriarty, Irish musical 

sketch, 1 scene 1 1 

Motor Bellows, comedy, 1 act 4 

Musical Se.^'vaut, sketch. 1 sceue — 3 
Mutton Trial, sketch, 2 scenes .... 4 
MyWife'sVi-sitors, comic drania,lsc. 6 I 
Night in a Strange Hotel, sketch, Isc. 2 
Noble Savage, Ethi'n sketch, 1 sc. .. 4 
No Pay No Cure, Ethi'n sketch,! sc. 5 

Obeying Orders, sketch, 1 sceue 2 I 

100th Night of Hamlet, sketch 7 1 

Oh, Husii ! operatic olio 4 1 

One Night in a Bar Room, sketch . . 7 
One Night in a Medical College, 

Ethiopian sketch, 1 scene 7 1 

One, Two, Three, sketch, 1 scene. . 7 
Painter's Apprentice, farce, 1 scene. 5 
Pete and the Peddler, Negro and 

Irish sketch, 1 sceue 2 1 

Pleasant Companions, Ethiopian 

sketch, 1 scene .... 5 1 

Polar Bear (The), farce, 1 scene. ... 4 1 

Policy Players, sketch, 1 scene 7 

Pompey's Patients, interlude, 2 sc 6 
Porter's Troubles, sketch, 1 scene. . 6 1 

Port Wine vs. Jealousy, .sketch 2 1 

Private Boarding, comedy, 1 scene. 2 3 

Recruiting Office, sketch, 1 act 5 

Rehearsal (The), Irish farce, 2 sc. . . 3 1 
Remittauce from Home.sketch. 1 sc. 6 
Rigi^ing a Purchase, sketch, 1 sc. .. 3 



81. 

26. 

138. 

15. 
59. 
21. 

80. 

84. 
38. 
74. 
46. 
69. 
56. 
72. 
13. 
16. 
7. 
121. 

47. 

54. 
100. 
102. 

34. 

122. 

2. 
104. 
5. 
28. 
134. 
62. 
32. 
39. 



93. 

29. 

97. 

137. 

143. 

99. 

85. 
116. 



M. F. 

Rival Artists, sketch, 1 sceue 4 

Rival Tenants, sketch 4 

Rival Barbers' Shops (The). Ethio- 
pian farce, 1 scene 6 1 

Sam's Courtship, farce, 1 act ,. 2 1 

Sausage Makers, sketch, 2 scenes. . 5 1 
Scampini, pantomime, 2 scenes .... 3 3 
Scenes on th« Mississippi, sketch, 

2 scenes 6 

Serenade (The), sketch, 2 scenes'.'. " '. 7 

Siamese Twins, sketch, 2 scenes 5 

Sleep Walker, sketch, 2 scenes 3 

Slippery Day, sketch, 1 sceue 6 1 

Squire lor a Day, sketch 5 1 I 

Stage-struck Co'uple, interlude, 1 sc. 2 1 

Stranger, burlesque, 1 scene , . 1 2 

Streets of New York, sketch, 1 sc. . . 6 
Storming the Fort, sketch, 1 scene. 5 

Stupid Servant, sketch. 1 scene 2 

Stocks Up ! Stocks Down ! Negro 

duologue, 1 scene 2 

Take It, Don't Take It, sketch, 1 sc. 2 

Them Papers, sketch, 1 sceue 3 

Three Chiefs (The), sketch. 1 scene. 6 

Three A. M., sketch, 2 scenes 3 1 

Three Strings to one Bow, sketch, 

1 scene 4 i 

Ticket Taker, Ethi'n farce, 1 scene. 3 

Tricks, sketch 5 2 

Two Awfuls (The), sketch, 1 scene.. 5 

Two Black Roses, sketch 4 1 

Uncle Eph's Dream, sketch, 2 sc. . . 3 1 
Unlimited Cheek, sketch, 1 scene . . 4 1 

YinegtH.- Bitters, sketch, 1 scene 6 1 

Wake up. William Henry, sketch. . . 3 
Wanted, a Nurse, sketch, 1 scene. . . 4 
Weston, the Walkist, Dutch sketch, 

1 scene 7 1 

What shall I Take? sketch, 1 scene. 7 1 
Who Died First ? sketch, 1 scene. . . 3 1 
Who's the iVctor? farce, 1 scene..,. 4 
Whose Baby is it ? Ethiopian sketch, 

1 scene 2 1 

Wonderful Telephone (The), Ethio- 
pian sketch, 1 scene 4 1. 

Wrong Woman in the Right Place, 

sketch, 2 scenes 2 2 

Young Scamp, sketch, 1 scene 3 

Zacharias' Funeral, farce, 1 scene.. 5 



A COMPLETE DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE OF DE WITT'S ACT- 
ING PLAYS AND I ^. WITT'S ETHIOPIAN AND COMIC DRAMAS, 
containing Plot, Costume, Scenery, Time of Representation, and all other informa- 
tion, mailed free and post paid on application. Ad-dress 



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I TBRftRY OF CONGRESS 

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" "m =28 479 

Ail InlisiBisalilii Boo^ for Amaleirs. 



HOW TO MAHAGE 
AMATEtJE THEATMCALa 



Being plain instructions for construction and arraiigement of Stage, 
making Scenery, getting up Costumes, '■'■Making Q:» " to represent 
different ages and characters, and how to produce stage Illusions and 
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somely illustrated with Colored Plates. 

Price, 25 Cents, 



DE WITT'S SELECTIONS 

FOR 

AMATEM m PAELOB THEATBICALS. 

Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4 &; 5. 

Being choice selections from the very best Dramas, Comedies and 
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Each number^ 25 Cents, 

PANTOMIME PLAY , 

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The celebrated Pantomime, as originally played for 1,000 nights by the 
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